Do you feel as though you are in a situation that seems hopeless? (You faced other situations that were difficult or trying, but nothing like this). Do you feel as though God has left you in some dark valley and is not coming through for you? Has the devil begun to feed you with anxiety, worry, or depression? Then take heart, Saint of God, you are in good company with many of the men of God who wrote the Bible.
In Psalm 3, David cried out, "Lord, how have they increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, "There is no help for him in God." (Psalm 3:1-2 NKJV)
Most study Bibles say that Psalm 3 was written by David, as he was fleeing Jerusalem - during the takeover of his kingdom by his son Absalom. This was a time when he was in a lose - lose situation, if you will. He knew that - at this time - he did not have the man power or resources to fight for his kingdom. Many were turning against him on every side. Even if he did fight for his throne (which he later did), he knew it would mean losing his son forever.
It was as if he was between a rock and a hard place.
But I believe that the worst part of this situation was the fact that he had to hear the "mouths" of the people around him. Everyday he heard rumours and reports of friends and close allies joining ranks with his enemy - his son. They probably said things like, "God has forsaken David and given the kingdom to his son. There is no more help for him in his God. Even God is not with him. The anointing on him to lead is gone. If God were with him, why would He allow his son to chase him out of his office? Yes, we see that God has left David and is now behind Absalom. Look how successful Absalom is! Look at what a failure David is!"
This was not the only time in David's life when he faced a seemingly hopeless situation. Listen to his prayer to God in Psalm 69 - "Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of crying; My throat is dry; My eyes fail while I wait for my God. Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; they are mighty who would destroy me, being my enemies wrongfully..." (Psalm 69:1-4 NKJV)
In essence, David was saying - "I feel like I am in over my head in problems. I feel like I'm in quicksand. Every time I try to get out, I sink further and further down."
Friend, do you ever feel like you are sinking? Do you feel like - the more you struggle to get yourself out of a problem or situation - the further you get sucked down into it? Do you feel like you are being devoured by your problems? David felt this way. Many saints of God over the centuries have felt this way, too..
There is a feeling of hopelessness that Satan tries to bombard God's people with. At times, it can be his greatest weapon against an on - fire child of God. Since he cannot get him to sin, he uses the tactic of putting him (or her) into a "pit" of depression. He brings feelings of fear and hopelessness. He makes this child of God feel as though he is sinking in despair. The worst part, he tells him that God is nowhere to be found. He convinces him that God has given up on him, or that He has lost patience with him and abandoned him.
We have been given a way out of our hopelessness and despair. We have the key to getting out of our misery and discouragement. The key is "The Key of Promise." We have the promises of God on our side. They have never been broken or ever failed to come true. They are able to unlock the doors of Doubt and Despair that try to restrict and limit our faith. We can leave Despair in the dust, when we stand on the promises of God.
David, too, used "The Key of Promise." In Psalm 40:1-5, he testified - "I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth - praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." (NKJV)
David's testimony was one of deliverance. He said in essence that God pulled him out of the "quicksand" that he was stuck in. No more was he on the shifty mire of Despair and Depression. He was standing on the promises of God - which are a sure foundation. God put a new song of deliverance in his mouth and caused him to declare His wonderful works.
Christian, if you feel like you are stuck in "problems"....if you feel as though you are in Giant Despair's dungeon, I hear the Lord calling to you today. He's saying, "Lift up your head, your redemption is coming. Stand on My promises, and use them to unlock the prison you are in. I want to pull you out of the mire that you are stuck in. I want to set you on a solid foundation where you can declare My wonders. But you have to quit trying to fight the "quicksand." You have to quit trying to escape the "prison" you are in - by using man's methods. You must allow Me to pull you out. You must allow My promises to be your key."
Let's look at some "keys" in God's Word that helped others get over their depression. Psalm 42:5 says - "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance." (NKJV)
In Lamentations 3:18, Jeremiah cried out- " And I said, "My strength and my hope have perished from the Lord." (NKJV) But then by verse 24, he got a memo from his soul, and he declared -"'The Lord is my portion', says my soul, 'Therefore I hope in Him!'" (NKJV)
In 1 Samuel 30, David and his men came back to their city (after being gone a short time) to find it plundered, and their wives and children taken captive. Depression and Deep Despair began to set in on David and his men. By verses 6- 8, we read - "David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God. David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray you, bring me the ephod. And Abiathar brought him the ephod. And David inquired of the Lord..." (AMP)
The psalmist in Psalm 42, Jeremiah, and David all knew how to get out of their depression. They knew that the answer was found in hoping in God and inquiring of Him. They encouraged themselves when there was no one there to encourage them. They stood on the faithfulness of God.
Today, we must be as these three men. We must not go looking for someone to give us encouragement. Most people have the same lack of encouragement that Job's friends had. They make others feel worse than before they started talking!
We must not discuss the problems we have (in great length) with many people. David did not get a "think tank" together to help him figure out his problems. Jeremiah did not go to the people that he prophesied to and ask for their advice on how he should handle his despair. No, these men went directly to God. They felt Him touch their souls and give them a "word in season."
Notice, too, that David did not get drunk to forget his troubles. Jeremiah did not crawl into a cave and take some downers to sleep his depression away. Likewise, when we - as the people of God - become depressed, it's not the time to drown our sorrows in alcohol. It's not the time to go to the psychiatrist for some pills to get us through. It's not the time to blank out on illegal drugs or pain medicine. It's time to encourage ourselves in the Lord. It's time to claim the promises of God. It's time to inquire of the Lord.
Today, my friend, allow God to pull you up out of your "quicksand." Don't look at it and try to fight it, as it will pull you down deeper. Look to Jesus to pull you out. Use the "Key of Promise" to unlock the doors of Doubt and Despair in your mind. Begin to declare the wonderful works of God and sing of His goodness and love. Soon you will find yourself out of the "prison" and the "mire" and on solid ground - with a new song in your mouth and a testimony to share of the goodness of God.
